Our post on the NYC highline project last year completely changed the way we thought about the potential of neglected spaces in dense urban cities. We started to see potential everywhere – in laneways, abandoned buidings, walls and rooftops, but never underground! Subterranean spaces, being void of natural light and generally disconnected from the world above, were less exciting prospects for design. That is, until now…

The latest proposed project out of NYC has ambitious (and fantastic) plans to create its next urban garden in a discarded subway station, making use of the latest in fibre-optic technology to flood the space with natural sunlight during the day and light up at night. Over two acres of concrete nothingness will be converted into a futuristic playpark complete with living grass, plants and trees. The move opens up a whole range of possibilities for local re-development, and projects like Tonkin Zulhaika Greer’s conversion of the Paddington Reservoir are a great example of how valuable and exciting these types of initiatives can be.

Sydney still has two abandoned reservoirs at Balmain and Woolloomooloo – bring on a competition for these spaces! The next underground utopia awaits…